Dear Olive,
You came into the world wide eyed and alert as if ready to take on anything. I bet this is an indication of your personality to come as you grow up and you continue to be aware and observant with a can do attitude.
We were all so excited when we found out your mom and dad were going to have a baby. However, your poor mom had some pretty awful morning sickness in the beginning, so Quinn and I nicknamed you Rumplestiltskin, which we later shortened to Rumplie. The nickname stuck and Rumplie became your womb name. You were Rumplie for 41 long weeks as we waited your arrival. We had a lot of fun milestones during those 41 weeks, including finding out you were a GIRL baby, getting to see ultrasound pictures, and feeling you move and kick in your mom’s belly.
I was lucky enough to be a small part of your introduction to the world. Your mom was six days overdue with you when she was admitted to the hospital for an induction. Induction can be long, especially for first time moms, so your mom and dad headed up to the hospital earlier in the day on Sunday, April 26. They got settled in and were ready to start the process of having a baby. Grandma Ti-Ti and I came up later in the evening after dinner, and were excited to hear all about your mom’s progress and to meet you. We left Quinn with Grandpa Red and boy, was she mad! She was sad to be missing out on your arrival, and next to your mom and dad was probably the very most excited to meet you!
We arrived at the hospital to find your mom and dad in good spirits. Your mom was making some progress, but the progress was on the slow side, but not totally unexpected for a first time mom. We chatted and I helped your mom take a bath to ease the pain of the contractions. Every hour or so they would check your mom to see if she was any closer to having you, and every hour we would all be a little more disappointed to learn that little progress was being made. We joked that you were a stubborn one, just like your mom and would maybe even come out pouting like her. Every time they checked and there was not so great news, your mom would cry and be so disappointed. She was working so hard, and was so anxious/excited to meet you.
As the night went on, your mom got an epidural to help with the pain, and that was kind of a rough process. Your poor mom endured so much that night. She was trooper! After the epidural, she was able to relax a little, and we all got a little rest in hopes that the next check would mean that you were getting closer to arriving. However, that was not the case. Your mom basically stayed at the same dilation the entire time. Poor lady. We did get the good news during this time that your Aunt Monika had been admitted to the very same hospital to have her baby. We were all so amazed at the possibility of “twin cousins.”
Finally, after 40 hours of labor and hard contractions, and very little progress, a doctor decided it was time for a c section. Thank goodness! It turns out you weren’t necessarily stubborn at all, but merely in the wrong position to allow an easy vaginal birth. Grandma and I waited anxiously back in the room as your mom and dad were wheeled out of the room to the operating room, and after what seemed like a quick c section, they returned with a beautiful baby girl, that they named Olive Mae Meier.
You were born on Monday, April 27 weighing 7 lbs, 4 ounces, and were 19 inches long. You had beautiful strawberry blonde hair, and the biggest eyes anyone in the Carlson family has ever had. I was instantly in love with you! (So was everyone else in the room!) You were perfect and lovely. You were the most alert newborn I have ever seen, and you had the best expressions and funny little faces from the moment you were born. Seriously. Your very first pictures make for the best newborn photos ever. I knew right away that you were ready to take on the world.
Your cousin Rhett was born less than an hour before you! What are the chances of that happening? So, you got to meet him right away, and you also have some very sweet and precious photos of you and Rhett together during your first hours of life. You got to meet Monika and Dan as well, and Cole and Lexi came up right away to see you too! Everyone was very excited to meet you!
You nursed right away and have been a champion eater. You and your mom make a great team when it comes to breastfeeding. Speaking of teams, your parents make an awesome team. There is no way they could have made it through all 40 plus hours of labor without each other. They are so loving, and truly care about each other, and now they have you to love too. You guys are one lucky family. And I feel lucky to be a small part of it.
The next day, we were able to bring up Quinn to meet you. She was smitten with you the moment she saw you. The pictures of her seeing you the first time are some of my very favorite photos. She and your mom have always had a very special relationship. In fact, she used to call your mom- Mama Ali, so for her to get to meet the baby that her most special Aunt had just had was a very big event and a special memory for all of us. She wanted to be able to take care of, including be able to breastfeed you, just like her Aunt Ali. If you squawked, Quinn was ready to nurse. She loves you very much.
Your Uncle Dalan and I were equally as smitten. You were a beautiful baby both physically and in nature. I just can’t get over how much personality you were able to show in that cute little face of yours from the minute I first saw, and it hasn’t stopped. You are one in a million, and I can’t wait to see grow up and keep developing that darling personality. I am so happy that I get to be your aunt, and am looking forward to making lots of happy memories with you!
Love you,
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